Endless track for vehicles



.April 16, 1946. "E, H. w. Foo-r ENDLES TRACK FQR VEHICLES Filed May 50, 1944 Patented Apr. 16, 1946 l UNITED STATES oFFicE Edward Hammond Whaueyj Foot, Beaconsfield, England, assgnor l.to The' Tllage & Sub-Selling 'Company Limited, Beaconsleld, `England Application May` so, 1944,;,seria1 No. fsssgozo In Great Britain June 25, 1948 i n 4 claims. (Cl. '24x-257) The present Vinvention relates to `an l endless :bolt I8 is lflollowtn` `permit the injection of oil track for vehicles, the tracks being of the kind through the ,grooves I4, .'I5, I6 vand il into the comprising a plurality oimutually hinged track oil chambers 8. The injection hole is normally plates provided with hinge pins. closed by a screw I9. The sleeve has a series of The main object of the present invention is to apertures 2 communicating with an annular oil provide emcient means for lubricating the hinge reservoir 22 which is also filled through the holpins. low bolt I8.

According to a further object of the invention As the gland packings II wear down the caps the pivot pin connecting adjacent links of an 'I are urged inwardly by the spring IIJ. The oil endless track is maintained in an oil bath by ilows through the groove or vent I6 to the anmeans of a sleeve surrounding the central pornular recess I4 to maintain a bath of oil for the tion of the pin and recessed caps fitting over the pin 4. The outer ends 20 of the caps 7 PrO-ject ends of the pin forming with the adjacent parts beyond the faces of thev lugs 5 and the gradual of the pin an oil chamber at each end of the pin. inward movement of the projecting ends serves Another object of the invention is to provide as tell-tale devices to indicate the degree of wear means for urging the caps into engagement with of the gland packings I I.

the packing glands as wear of the glands takes Iclaim: place. l. In an endless track for vehicles, comprising A still further object of the invention is to proa plurality of track links wherein adjacent links vide means for securing the end caps against roare connected by a pivot pin, means for maintation relative to the pin whilst permitting rela-. taining the bearing surface of the pin bathed in tive axial movement ofthe caps. oil, comprising a sleeve surrounding the central The invention is illustrated in the annexed portion of the pin, two caps each having an inner drawing, in which: g recess tting over the opposite ends of the pin, a Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of part 25` packing gland interposed between the ends of the of an endless track and sleeve and each cap, an outer recess in each cap, Fig. 2 is a section through the hinge pin. a spring in each outer recess urging th'e caps into As shown in the accompanying drawing, the engagement with the packing glands an oil chamtrack plate I is formed with lugs 2 apertured to ber at each end of the pivot pin and formed by receive the sleeve 3 of a hinge pin 4. The outer 30 the adjacent portions of the pin and cap, and lugs 5 of an adjacent track plate each has an means supplying oil from the oil chambers to the aperture 6 in which a bush cap I is arranged. outer longitudinal bearing surface of the pivot The inner end of each bush cap 'I has a recess pin. 8 to receive the end of the pin 4 and the outer 2. In an endless track for vehicles, comprising end has a recess 8a to house a spring I0. Gland 35 a plurality of track links wherein adjacent links packings II are interposed between the sleeve are connected by a pivot pin, means for mainand the inner edge portions of the caps which taining the bearing surface of the pin bathed in are urged Yby a spring I0 to engage gland packoil, comprising a sleeve surrounding the central ings 9. The spring I0 is held in place by a bolt portion of the pin, two caps each having an inner I2 secured to the lugs of adjacent links and eX- 40 recess fitting over the opposite ends of the pin, a tends through slots I3 in the cap 'l thereby prepacking gland interposed between the ends of the venting rotation of the cap without interfering sleeve and each cap, an outer recess in each cap, with its axial movement. The bolt I2 also serves a spring in each outer recess urging the caps into as an abutment for the spring I0. The recess 8 engagement with the packing glands an oil chamforms an oil chamber and a housing into which ber at each end of the pivot pin and formed by the end of the pin 4 projects. the adjacent portions of the pin and cap, longi- The pin -4 is formed with an annular groove tudinally extending oil channels in the pivot pin I4, an external sinuous longitudinal groove I5, feeding oil from the chamber to the outer longileading from the groove I4, a central longitudinal tudinal bearing surface of the Pivot pin, an angroove or vent I6 and a passage I1 connecting 50 nular groove in the outer surface of the pin and the grooves I5 and I6. means connecting said groove with an oil reser- A bolt I-8 extends through the sleeve 3 and its voir adjacent to the centre of the pivot pin. inner end enters the annular groove I4 of the 3. In an endless track for vehicles, comprising pin 4 to prevent lateral axial movement of the pin a plurality of track links wherein adjacent links Whilst permitting rotary movement thereof. The are connected by a pivot pin, means for maintaining the bearing surface of the pin bathed in oil, comprising a, sleeve surrounding the central portion of the pin, two caps each having an inner recess fitting over th'e opposite ends of the pin, a packing glandinterposed between the ends of the sleeve and each cap, an outer recess in each cap, a spring in each outer recess urging the caps into engagement with the packing glands an oil chamber at each end of the pivot pin and formed by the adjacent portions of the pin and cap, and

means supplying oil from the oil chambers to the ing the bearing surface of the pin bathed in oil, comprising a sleeve surrounding the central porn tion of the pin, two caps each having an inner recess fitting over the opposite ends of the pin, a packing gland interposed between the ends of the sleeve and each cap, an outer recess in each cap,` a spring in each outer recess urging the caps into engagement with the packing,` glands an oil chamber at each end of the pivot pin and formed ,by the adjacent portions of the pin and cap, 1ongitudinally extending oil channels in the pivot pin outer longitudinal bearing surface of the pivot pin slots in each outer recess and bolts secured in said slots and secured tolugs of an adjacent track link for retaining th'e said springs' in theV outer recesses of the caps and preventing rotational movement of the caps relatively to the track pin whilst permitting relative movement in an axial direction.

4. In an endless track for vehicles, comprising 20 a plurality of track links wherein adjacent links are connected by a pivot pin, means for maintainfeeding oil from the' chamber to the outer longitudinal bearing surface of the pivot pin, an an- Y nulargroove in the outer surface of th'e pin and 

